This is a list of designated terrorist groups by national governments, former governments and inter-governmental organizations, where the proscription has a significant effect on the group's activities. Many organizations that are accused of being a terrorist organization deny using terrorism as a military tactic to achieve their goals, and there is no international consensus on the legal definition of terrorism.[1][2]

This listing does not include unaffiliated individuals accused of terrorism, which are considered under lone wolf terrorism. This list also excludes groups that might be widely considered terrorist, but who are not officially so designated according to the criteria specified above.

This list is not all inclusive. For more inclusive lists, including people, entities (corporations), and specific vehicles, refer to lists under Process of designation.

Among the countries that publish a list of designated terrorist organizations, some have a clear established procedure for listing and delisting, and some are opaque. The Berghof Foundation argues that opaque delisting conditions reduce the incentive for the organization to abandon terrorism, while fueling radicalism.[84]

The European Union has two lists of designated terrorist organisations that provide for different sanctions for the two groups.[88] The first list is copied from the United Nations, and the second is an autonomous list.[89]

the freezing of all funds, other financial assets and economic resources.

a ban on directly or indirectly making funds, other financial assets and economic resources available.

It is important to note that sanctions are only applicable to EU-external groups regardless of designation. For example, 47 groups are listed as terrorist organizations in the EU but sanctions are only applied to 27 of these. Member States do have an obligation to assist each other in preventing and combating terrorist acts but this is the only action that follows from the designation of an EU-internal organization.

European Union list of terrorist groups and individuals, 25 June 2012.[90]

New organizations are added to the autonomous list following this process:[89]

"Designation": Member states and third party states tips about an organization. This state must have solid evidence and must the tip must be sent by the national authority.

Scrutinity: The Presidency, or a delegation, gathers basic information, and might require more information from the tipping state.

Consultations: Information is shared with other member states for discussion. Everything is still confidential. 15 days after, delegates of the states meet as the CP 931 Working Party, Europol is sometimes invited too.

Recommendation: The CP 931 Working Party prepares the listing decision.

Decision by EU Council: The council adopts the list. The decision must be unanimous, which means that every state has a veto right.

Official Publishing: In the EU Official Journal

Notification and Statement of Reason: The council secretariat notifies each designated organization via mail, together with instructions on how to get the decision to be reconsidered.

In Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics are classified as terrorist organizations. Ukrainian authorities claim that the two organizations are made up of a rigid hierarchy, financing channels and supply of weapons with the purpose of deliberately propagating violence, seizing hostages, carrying out subversive activity, assassinations, and the intimidation of citizens.[39]

the prevention of entry onto or transit through the territories of member states.

a prohibition on provision of technical assistance or training in military matters or in the manufacture or maintenance of arms and related materiel.

The EU provides exceptions to the implementation of relevant asset-freezing sanctions per UN resolution 1452 (2002). Upon request, a competent national authority may determine to release funds on the following grounds if, within the time limit provided for, there has been no objection made, or a release has been explicitly approved, by the UN Sanctions Committee.

necessary to cover basic expenses, intended for the payment of professional fees for legal services or for the payment of fees or services in relation to the maintenance of frozen funds or assets

Executive Order 13224 blocking Terrorist Property and a summary of the Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 595 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations), Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 596 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations), and Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (Title 31 Part 597 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations)